Food Blog

My first ever attempt at QUINOA

This recipe comes from a book I’ve not yet blogged about, spiralize now! My brother bought it for me alongside my spiralizer. I am aware that spiralizing was a craze that has perhaps been and gone for some, but I am still a big fan. It’s a fun way to get different veggies into your diet. It’s also allowed me to try certain foods raw, which gives them a very different texture.

First, place 200g of quinoa in a saucepan and cover with 600ml of cold water. Add a little salt and bring to the boil. Once bubbling, reduce and simmer for a good 10-15 mins. Once it’s tender and has absorbed most of the water, remove from the heat and cover.

I wasn’t buzzing about the quinoa, as so many people seem to. I get that’s it’s a gluten free grain and a great filling alternative to more processed foods, but it definitely needs lots of flavour adding to it.

Leave the quinoa be and crack on with the rest of the salad. Spiralize two trimmed courgettes using the ribbon blade. If you don’t have a spiralizer, one of those sharpener type tools does the same thing.

Place a glug of olive oil and a tablespoon of sumac in a bowl. I didn’t know what this was, but you can find it in the world foods section. Add three chicken breasts to the bowl and toss them so they’re coated.

Get a griddle pan on high, add the chicken and cook for about eight mins each side. Once these are cooked through, set aside to rest. I tend to bash my chicken breasts when I cook them like this, to ensure they cook through.

Toss the courgette ribbons for a couple of mins in the chicken pan, until lightly charred.

Transfer the quinoa to a large bowl, and mix with the juice and zest of a lemon, some extra virgin olive oil, a handful of chopped mint and 100g of roughly chopped pistachios. Mix these well and season to taste before stirring in the courgette ribbons and a handful of pomegranate seeds.

Thinly slice the juicy chicken breasts, divide the quinoa salad between four and top.

I’ve since used quinoa in other dishes and I must say my opinion has been heightened slightly.